Container



Aug. 2, 1793-8. I J.' GoLlsANO CONTAINER u ma Mm J. GoLlsANo 2,125,716

Aug, 2', 193s.

' CONTAINER Filed June 26, 1936 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 lNvENToR Jill/.11 (aifsalw `ATTORNEY Patented Aug. 2, 1938 v`4vUNITED STATES i PATENT o-Flcs CONTAINER John Golisano, Brooklyn, N. Y., assignor to National Folding Box Company, New Haven, Conn., a corporation of New Jersey Application June 2s, 19st, serial No. 87,335

9 claims. (ci. zza-s) This invention relates to containers, and more particularly to containers for radio tubes, electric light bulbs and similar fragile articles which must lbe protected against injury and damage during shipment, storageand display, and yet permit test` of the articles after packaging and before sale tofthe consumer and user without requiring removal thereof from the container.

It is generally customary to test radiotubes,

.0l electric light bulbs and like fragile articles immediately prior to the delivery of same to the customer or user, by the application of the test end of the article to a suitable plug or socket to determine whether the article is in first class l5 operative condition. The container constructed in accordance with this invention permits such test to be quickly and readily performed without removing or disturbing the article from its sealed position within the container.l The container is furthermore constructed to protect the delicate and fragile instrument from damage as a result of shockdelivered to the container. The container'is so constructed as to make it impossible to remove the article from the container without mutilating the container itself or otherwise leaving visible evidence of tampering.

One object of this invention is to provide a. container especially adapted to house and contain a radio tube, electric light bulb, or similar fragile article, which fully protectsvthe delicate instrument from injury as a result of external shock, which permits rapid ejection of the article for test purposes, and which when the article is F ejected will permit the quick and ready insertion 3 ofthe test end of the article into a test socket.

Another object of the invention is to provide a container for fragile articles whichpermts a limitedtelescopic movement of the article withwill effectively prevent removal of the article packed therein without leaving visible and telltale evidence of tampering, which is provided with meansv to support the article away from and v expensively manufactured, assembled and packed l substantially entirely by automatic machineryand which may be made up in a variety of attractive designs and patterns.

in the container to permit test thereof, which Y Other objects of this invention will vbecome ap parent as the disclosure proceeds. y,

In order that a clearer understanding of my invention may be had, attention is hereby directed to the'accompanying drawings, forming a 5 part of this application and illustrating certain possible embodiments of my invention.

Referring to the drawings: y

Fig. 1 is a face View of a blank which has been suitably out and scored to form the outer sleeve 10 of the container.;

Fig. 2 is a face view of an extended blank sui ably cut and scored to form the article-supporting member which slides within the outer sleeve;

Fig. 3 is a perspective viewof the inner mem- 15 ber surrounding and enclosing the article'with the outer sleeve in position to be applied thereto:

Fig. 4 .is a perspectivev view of the container showing the outer sleeve thereof in the process of being applied; 20 Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the container as it appears when completely assembled;

Fig. 6 isa 'sideview of the assembled container showing 'a radio tube .packed therein ejected in position for testing, certain parts be- 25 ing broken away to illustrate certain features of' the construction;

Fig. 'i is a perspective view` `of a container having an outer enclosure sleeve of t'omewhat modied form;

Fig. 8 is a face view of a blank vfrom which may be formed an article-supporting member of somewhat modied form;

Fig. 9 is a face view ofv a blank from which an outer sleeve of somewhat modied form may 35 be assembled:

Fig. 10 ,is a face view ofa blank from which an article-supporting member of further. modifled form may be assembled;

Fig. 11 is a perspective view of the article- 40 supporting member formed from the blank shown in Fig. l0, applied to the article packed within the container, the outer sleeve formed from the blank shown in Fig. 9 being shown in position to be applied to the article-supporting 45.

member;

Fig. 12 is a perspective view of the container showing the outer sleeve thereof in the process of being applied to the inner article-supporting member; l 50 'Fig. 13 is a perspective view of the container formed from the blanks shown in Figs. 9 and 10 as it appears when fully` assembled:

Fig. 14 is a perspective view of a container having an outer sleeve of further modied form 55 board or other material designed to protect the article againstl` damage as a result fof exterior shock. 'I'he Vinner shell C and the article T con- I tained therein is supported by an inner-supporting member B which may be formed from the blank shown in-Fig. 2. The article T, shell C and supporting member B are encased and enclosed inan outer box or sleeve which may be formed from the blank A shown in Fig. 1. The blank A may comprisesidewall panels I, 2, 2` and 4 deilned by the score lines 1 which score lines form the c orners of the rectangular box. A tab or ear I hinged tothe free edge of the side wall panel I along the score lines '1 is adapted to be inserted into a corresponding guide slit l posi- Jtioned in line with the score lines 1 which define the securing section [from the side wall panel 4. The article-supporting member formed from the blank B shown in Fig. 2 comprises a side wall portion II and end wallv portions I2 and I3 hinged to the side wall II along the score lines I6. 'I'he test end'of the article T may be positioned to rest upon the end wall portion I2, with the test portions or prongs p extending through a suitable opening 22 in the end wall portion I2. The end wall portion I2 is arranged to overlie the other end ci the article and, if desired, an opening 2l may be provided therein to assist in centering the article within the supporting member B. Side wall portions I4 and Il hinged to the opposite side edge of the end wall portions I2 and I3 respectively along the score lines I8 together form a second side wall for the articlesupporting member B. The side wall portions I4 and I5 are each provided with a complementary hook portion I1 which may be interlocked together in the manner shown in Fig. 3. Ifdesired, a slot I 0 of limited extent may be provided at the base of each hook portion lI1 to insure positive interlocking action. Preferably, the hook portions I1 are connected so as to lie against the inside face ofthe side wall-forming portions I4 and I5 so that the outside face of the end wallforming portions I4 and I5 present a smooth and substantially uninterrupted outer surface. Flaps Il oppositely arranged and hinged to the end wall portion I2 along the score lines 2l are bent outwardly to provide supporting legs at one end of the container. Similar `oppositely arranged flaps 2I-hinged to the end wall portion I I along score lines`2Il may also be bentf outwardly as shown in Fig. 3 to provide article-supporting legs at the opposite end of the container.

'I'he package is assembled by inserting the Aarticle T in the tubular inner protective sleeve C. 111e test portions p of the article are then inserted through the opening 22 provided in the end wall portion I2. 'I'he end wall portion I3 is then folded over to overlie and preferably engage the opposite end of the article, and finally the hook portions I1 associated with the side wall- `forming portions I4 and I5 are interlocked lio-,

gether so as to enclose and retain the article T and the inner protective sleeve C therein. A guide ear 24 hinged to the side Wall II along the score line 25 isthen inserted into the guide slot or slit 8 provided in the outer sleeve forming blank A. The sleeve-forming blank A is preferably applied to the article-supporting member B in su'ch a manner that the securing flap 5 thereof overlies the uncovered portion of the inner protective shell C, as clearly shown in Fig. 3. The outer sleeve-forming blank is then wrapped around the article-supporting member B, the overlapping flap 5 is bent to seat against the exposed face of the inner protective shell C, the guide tab 24l arranged to overlie and seat against the outside face of the securing-nap 5 and, finally.

' the connecting ear 6 is inserted into the slot 8 so as to overlie and cover the guide tab 24, as shown in Figs. 4 and 5 of the drawings. The

. container is sealed by the application of the eyeassembled the article-supporting member B is per- Y mitted to freely slide within the outer sleeve a limited distance defined by the length of the slit 8 and the length of the guide ear 24 inserted therein. The cooperating guide ear 24 and slit 8 should be so dimensioned as to permit the articlesupporting member to be moved from one extreme position wherein the article will be supported by the supporting legs I9 and 2| when the container is positioned to rest on either end thereof, and at the other extreme position to permit full ejection of the test portions p of the article and permit the-supporting legs I9 to swing outwardly so as not'to interfere with the eiiicient and effective testing of the article. When the securing hooks 'I1 are so interlocked as to lie against the inside face of the side wall-forming portions I4 and I5, the outer surface of the side wall-forming portions I4 and I5 present a smooth and substantially uninterrupted surface which permits free, unhindered and unobstructed sliding movement of the inner supporting member B within the sleeve A.' It will also be noted that when the inner article-supporting member vB is arranged relative to the outer sleeve A, as shown in Figs. 3, 4 .and 5, the eyelets or rivets 21 may be applied by automatic machinery in common use without interference from the article-supporting legs I9 and 2l. The article can be packed in the container quickly and eillciently either by h'and or partly or substantially entirely by machine oper.- ation. The blanks A and B can be cut and scored by automatic machinery in an economical manner and substantially without waste resulting.

'I 'here is shown in Fig. 7 a container having an outer sleeve member of somewhat modified construction. In this construction the sleeve is provided with a full-size side Wall panel 6a in place of the tuck-in iiap 8, the side wall panel 6a overlying the side wall panel 4. Aligned holes 28 may be punched at convenient points through the end portions of the side wall panels 4 and 6a to receive the eyelets or grommets 21. It will be noted that the guide tab 24 is then closely seated. between the securing flap 5 and the inside face of the side the free sliding movement of the inner article-Y wall panel l so that it is impossible to insert any instrument therebetween to force the guide tab 24 inwardly through theslot 8 so as to permit removal of the supporting member B and article T contained therein. If the guide tab 24 is deliberately cut off or mutilated, this fact is made clearly evident by reason of the fact that the tube and inner supporting member B can be freely removed from the outer sleeve. A pilier-proof construction is presented by the container shown in Figs. 5 and?.

There is shown in Fig. 8 a somewhat modified inner supporting member B which is similar to the supporting member shown in Fig. 2 except that the guide ear 24 is formed of two parts 24a and 24h which laterally project from the' side wall-forming portions I4 and I5 respectively. When the side wall-forming portions I4 and I5 are connected together by the hook portions I1, the guide ear portions tially abut, and when the tube-supporting member B is inserted within the outer sleeve A the guide portions 24a and 24h are inserted through .Y

the guide slot 8 in the manner hereinbefore def- `scribed in connection with the guide ear 24'. This modified construction has considerable merit, for the reason that even though a sharp instrument, such as a knife, were inserted in the s ealed package and one of the hooks I1 cut oif Iat the neck .portionso as to separate the side wall portions I4 and I5, the article packed therein still could not -be removed by reason of the fact 'that the side f'iwall portions I4 and I5 would be held in assembled position within the sleeve by reason of the fact that the' guide ear portions'24a and 24h wouldY still engage the outer sleeve A. d

There is shown in Figs. 9 to 13 inclusive a pilf er- Vproof lcontainer for fragile articles, of somewhat modified construction. As shown in Fig. 9, the outer sleeve A is provided with a tongue portion 9 hinged to the free edge of the sidewall panel 4 along the score lines 1, and spaced ear portions I0 and Illa extending from the free edge of the side wall panel I and hinged thereto along the score lines 1. The overall length 'of the flap 9 is such as to iit between the spaced ears III and Illa when the blank A is assembled in tubular form. The ear portion Ilia is preferably somewhat longer in length than the earportion I0 for a purpose hereinafter described.

- For the purpose of illustrating the various forms of inner supporting members that may be used, there is shown in Fig. l0 l'an inner supporting member B having hook portions 30 at the ends of the side wall-forming portions I4 and I5, of somewhat modied shape. The hook portions here shown are easy to attach together and require a minimum of paperboard to form same. The leg portions I9 and 2Imay, if desired, be provided with tapered side edges 3l to avoid the 'possibility of the legs gripping the adjacent side wall panels forming the outer sleeve and thus obstruct supporting member within the outer sleeve.-

In assembling this construction the flap portion 9 is inserted between the side wall II of the article-supporting member B and the inner protectivesleeve C,. as shown more particularly in Fig.-12. The-side panel 4 of the outer sleeve is then positioned overlie the side wall II of the inner member, the side panel 2 to overlie the side wall-forming portions. I4 and I5 of the inner member, andthe side panels I and 3 to averlie the exposed faces of the inner protective shell C. The

ears I0 and Illa are inserted between the side wall.

24a and 24hwill substano'f the side wall Il may be guide iiap 9.

. vided adjacent panel 4 andthe side wall II of the inner supporting member. as shown more particularly in Fig. 13. Aligned openings 28 in the end portions of the side wall panel 4 and the ear portions III and Illa maybe provided to vreceive the securing eye-y lets or gimlets 21. As thus arranged the eyelets 21 do not interfere with free sliding movement of the leg portions I9 and 2l of the inner member.

It will be noted that the overall length of the guide flap 9, as shown in Fig. 12, is less than the distance between the end wall portions I2 and I3 of the inner member, so as to permit a predeterminedv sliding movement of the inner member within the outer.` sleeve. This predetermined movement should be such that when the leg portions I9 rest upon the -containersupporting surface, the inside face of the end wall portion I2 will substantially abut the adjacent lower edge 4I of the guide flap 9, and in the other extreme position the inside face of the lend wall portion. I3 will substantially abut the adjacent top edge. 42 of the guide ap 9, in which latter position the test portions p of the article will beY fully ejected for test purposes and the leg portions I9 will be positioned to freely swing 'outwardly over the ends of the adjacent side wall panels I and 3. To obtain this result the guide 'flap 9 is desirably positoned somewhat nearer the test end than the opposite end of the container. The ear portions I0 and Illa should be of sufficient length to substantially abut the respective ends 4I and 42 of guide ap 9 so as material or objects into the container. .By referring more particularly to Fig. 9, it will be noted that the blanks A' provided with a guide ap 9 at one end thereof and securing ears I0 and IIla at the other end thereof, may be cut from large blanks or sheets o f paperboard substantially with,- out waste of material. l

It may be preferable incertain instances to depress the edge 32 of the side wall II, vas shown more particularly in Figs. l0, 11 and 12, sov that the. guide flap 9 may be readily inserted between the side wall II and the inner protective sleeve C, thus obviating the possibility that the inturned portion of the guide flap 9 adjacent the side wall panel 4 will bulge outwardly beyond the normal corner of the container. The depressed edge 32 provided with inclined edge portion 33- so that the inner memberis not weakened along the score lines 2II by reason of the depressed edge 32. k

There is shown in Figs. 14 and 15a container for fragile articles, which maybe provided with an inner article-supporting member similar to to prevent the entry of foreign the article-supporting member 'shown in Figs. 11

Aand in place thereof a side panel 6a is substituted,

4which is adapted to overlie the side panel 4 and completely seal and enclose all portions of the Aligned openings 28 may beprothe ends of the side wall panels 4 and 6a through which theeyelets, gimlets, or

. rivets 21 may be inserted to securely lock the outer sleeve in permanent tubular form. 'Ihe securing elements 21 may be applied by automatic' machinery without interference from the supporting legs IB'and 2|. t

VThe containers herein described are admirably adaptedfor the packaging and merchandising of.' radio tubes, electric light bulbs and like fragile articles which require testing before delivery, to the customer. A slight pressure exerted on the top end of the. tube will immediately ejectY the 'lli test portions p into exposed position outside oi' the container so that the same m'ay be quickly inserted into a testV socket. The side walls I I and the'side wall-forming portions Il'and I5 of the inner member present substantially smooth outside surfaces so that the same will freely slide a limited predetermined distance only within the outer sleeve. A guide tlap or tab for limiting the sliding movement of the inner member may be provided either on the inner member or on the outer member, the guide slot or opening which receives the guide flap or tab being accordingly associated with or provided in or on the other member. 'I'he particular arrangement of the inner member and outer member permits the application oi' the sealing rivets 2l by automatic machinery and without obstruction from the supporting legs I9 and 2| or other parts of the container. 'I'he container is so constructed as to permit only a limited sliding movement of the inner member Within the outer member, suilcient to permit quick and eiective testing of the article, at the same time retaining the article sealed within the container so that it cannot be removed without leaving telltale evidence of tampering. Both the manufacturer and the customer are thus assured that the'article originally packed in the container is delivered for use in good condition.

While certain novel features of the invention have been understood and are pointed out in the annexed claims, it will be understood' that various omissions, substitutions and changes may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the invention.

What is claimed is:

l. A container for a radio tube and the like including, an outer tubular sleeve, an inner tubesupporting member telescoping within said outer sleeve, said sleeve having a slit therein cooperating with a tab extending from said inner sup porting member to limit the telescoping movement of said inner member within the outer sleeve, said cooperating means being so arranged as to be inaccessible from outside the container.

2. A container for radio tubes and the like including, an outer tubular member, and an inner tube-supporting member adapted to telescope Within said outer member, said inner member having end wall portions and side wall portions connecting said end wall portions, said outer member and inner member having a cooperating guide means associated therewith. permitting limited telescopic movement of said inner member within the outer member which means cannot be removed or detached to eil'ectuate removal of the tube without leaving telltale evidence `of tampering, said guide means including a cboperating iiap and aperture associated with said outer tubular member and inner tube supporting member, said Aflap projecting laterally from one of said members.

3. A container for a radio tube and the like including, an outer tubular member, an inner tubesupporting member telescoping within said outer member, a guide slit in said tubular sleeve, a guide tab projecting from said tube-supporting member and extending through said guide slit permitting limited telescopic movement of said inner member within the outer member, and

means associated with said outer member cover-f tive shell, and an 1 inner member,

ing and concealing'said guide tab so as to prevent unauthorized access thereto.

4. A container for radio tubes and the like including, an outer tubular member having side wall panels forming a container of generally rectangular i'orm, and an inner tube-supporting member adapted to telescope wi said outer member, said inner member having end wall portions and side wall portions connecting said end wall portions, said outer sleeve having a tab portion extending from a side wall panel thereof adapted to interlockingly engage with a side wall portion of said'inner member to permit limited telescoping movement thereof, and means for sealing said outer member in ilxed tubular'position which cannot be detached without leaving visible evidence of tampering.

5. A container for radio tubes and the like including, an outer tubular member having side wall-forming panels, and an inner tube-supporting member adapted to telescope within said outer member, said outer member having an integral laterally projecting flap portion adapted ber, and means for permanently sealing said outer member in iixed tubular position.

. 6. A container for radio tubes and the like including, a tubular outer member, an inner member adapted to contain a tube telescoping within said outer member, a guide ear extending laterally from said inner member projecting through an elongated guide slot in said outer member so as to permit limited telescoping movement of said inner member within the outer member, said outer member having a side wall panel adapted to overlie said guide ear so as to prevent unauthorized release of said guide ear from said guide slot without leaving visible evidence of tampering.

7. 'A container for radio tubes and the like including, a protective sleeve, an'article-supporting member enclosing said protective sleeve, and an outer tubular member enclosing said article-supporting member, said article-supporting member including end wall portions and a side wall portion connecting said end wall portions, said outer tubular member having a guide flap folded around an edge of said article-supporting member and inserted between said inner protective sleeve and said side wallvportion cooperating to limit the sliding movement of said inner member in said outer tubular mem 8. A'package for radio tubes and the like including, an inner protective shell enclosing the tube, an inner member surrounding said protective shell, and an outer member enclosing said inner member, said' outer member having a laterally projecting guide iiap integral therewith and engaging said inner member to limit and denne the sliding movement thereof.

9. A package for radio tubes and the like including, an inner ,protective shell enclosing the tube, an inner member surrounding said protecouter member enclosing said said outer member having a laterally projecting guide ilap lextending from one edge thereof and inserted within and engaging said inner member to limit and denne the sliding movement thereof.

JOHN GOLISANO. 

